Inexperienced traveler...plus a Toddler

So next weekend we are going our on very needed vacation to Hawaii! I must admit...I am extremely terrified of flying with a Toddler. I have had my share of travel but it has usually been weekend trips to England for soccer games (don't ask..you won't understand and you'll just think I'm weird) which required no preparation.

So I thought I'd entertain you pros with my ROOKIE LIST.  This is a list of the things I have so far purchased for my trip...feel free to point and laugh. The point is that after the trip I will let you guys know what really is needed and what I should of saved my money on!

 Here is what I have rounded up so far for our first vacation. Disclaimer: I tend to over prepare.

1.  Kidz Gear Headphones - I got pretty purple ones. This should be a life saver as I plan on using the Ipad to keep her occupied for as long as possible. I know the only way the Ipad will keep her attention is with sound. How fun is talking Tom if you can't hear him talk back to you? 

2. Sand Off! Pink Powder Infused Mitt beach towel - I am fully aware that a powder infused mitt is not NECESSARY for the beach but whatever helps me take the sand off my kid without having to shove her into those beach showers is a friend of mine!

3. Mesh Beach Bag - I can carry all we need without carrying sand back with me. 

4. Swim Shoes  - Self explanatory really. Right? 

5. Disposable swim diapers - Don't look at me like that. I know that "reusable" is much safer and better for the environment but, I am on vacation! I don't want to be wiping poop off a diaper so I can reuse it. Disposable it is.

6. CARES Harness system - Chloebear has her own seat on the plane and instead of buying a $100+ harness, I rented one off ebay..yes RENTED and it was only $15! I know she won't sit for the entire time but at least it's nice to have the option.

7. Chicco Echo stroller- LOVEEEEEEE this stroller! $99 exclusively at target, 4 position recline, perfect height, nice storage basket, beautiful colors...I have one of those expensive strollers and I love this $99 dollar one just as much. Check out!

Those are the main things....let me know if i'm forgetting something!! I know about sunscreen I just didn't list it. :) 

Easter

This year was Chloe's 2nd Easter but the first she actually knew what was going on. On Saturday we had a wonderful time with our friends from our Working Parents Meet up group. We had an early morning Egg hunt with lots of eggs and lots of kids all around the same age, There wasn't much hiding of the eggs it was mainly just lay them out in plain sight and hope they didn't take 4 hours to put them into their baskets. The kids had a blast and I hope the parents did to cause I sure did!

On Sunday we went to church and we had the worst experience in sunday school. Chloe is 19 months and she has not yet been able to hang at sunday school she just completely freaks out and I get called in and she hates me for the rest of the day. How old were your kids when they started staying at Sunday School? Any tips?

This time...im serious.

If you are anything like me you can't even count how many times you've said that you are now "serious" about losing weight, and then don't do it..I can't even remember when was the last time I stuck with it for longer than a week. We are 31 days away from our family trip to Hawaii (CRUNCH TIME!) I want to see how much I can "tighten" up by then. I have joined myfitnesspal.com to help me keep track of my calories and today I will be starting Jillian Michael's 30 day shred and taking advantage of the day light by walking at nights as well! I will use this space to keep you guys updated on my weight loss. My starting goal is 28 lbs, and yes I know that ain't happening in 30 days lol!

If any of you want to join me in my journey you can find me on myfitnesspal, my user name is josy0710 or leave a comment on this post!

Let's do this!

Got lost there for a second!

Sorry about that! I know I have been awful about posting...so instead of trying to go back and remember things I will move forward and really try to keep this updated now.

I guess there are a few things that I do want to write about my ChloBear is now 18 months old (Well Tomorrow anyway) I cannot believe how time passes. She is so amazing and is really talking so much more lately.  I am amazed at how all of a sudden she repeats everything she hears and just has really came out of her shell!

I started a meet up group for working parents, I am sure at some point I have talked about my guilt over being a working mom and missing so much with Chloe but thankfully this meet up has been such a blessing! We've made friends that the entire family enjoys and we just look forward to the weekend! I have met some wonderful mommies that I can see myself being friends with for a long time. If you are in the LA area who ahead and shoot me an email and I will send you the link to the meet up.

We loved Disneyland so much that we got annual passes. ha. I guess now I am an expert on going with a child since we are there minimum every other weekend!

As far as tot school I actually stopped for awhile I still taught her and gave her some activities to do but nothing really new just recycled the activities I previously used. I am extremely excited about the 18 month milestone and will get back to a more organized tot school program.  So look for those posts to come!

Chlobear enjoying her first piece of candy..ever.. :(

Just to show how much she's grown since I last posted

And this one...because...who doesn't love babies and puppies?

The crazy holidays

I am back! I got lost there for a second, the holidays really threw my off schedule. I must say that it was just such a different experience having a toddler this time around. I loved it and I can't wait until she's more aware and able to participate in all those fun activities I have always dreamed about doing with my daughter (baking cookies, making decorations, elf on the shelf). Elfis (Our elf) didn't do much this year he just kind of sat on a book case all the time.

I will be posting some pictures as a lot has happened since my last post including ....our first drawing on the wall experience...

Well. Hope you are looking forward to my posts (if anyone is out there). Will be back soon.

The happiest place on Earth.

So...we finally did it. We took Chloe to Disneyland!! We have been wanting to go to Disneyland for the longesstttt time but have been afraid that she was too small and wouldn't enjoy it or would just be crying the entire time and we'd have nothing to do. We finally stopped talking about it and just bought our tickets and went!

How was it you ask? well...it rained. Yes, maybe just buying the tickets and going was not the best idea and a little planning and a good look at mother nature would of helped BUT overall I think the trip was a success.

Obviously, since I took my daughter once to a theme park I am now an expert on the subject and fully qualified to give tips and advise  :) so if I had to give any tips, these are my top 3.

1. Let the child set the pace. I think this helped us have a mostly grumpy free trip.  We let Chlobear take her nap at the usual time in the morning and although.at home she only naps once a day at Disneyland she took an afternoon nap...and all was OK with the world. When she seemed tired, I would just walk around with her in the stroller letting her see things and when she seemed energized that's when we took advantage and went on rides and such.

2. Take it easy. Yes, I know there is A LOT to do at Disneyland and most of us try to do it all to make the most of the visit! however with a kid I found it a lot easier on all of us to just pick and choose the activities. There were some things we didn't get to ride and that's OK...at least we didn't wear ourselves out!

3. DISNEY JR. LIVE! enough said.

I won't sit here on my beautiful high horse and claim to have had a wonderful problem free visit. I have a 15 month old toddler and lately putting her in the stroller is the worst thing in the world in her eyes. OVERALL good trip, can't wait to do it again (minus the rain!)

Here are some pictures (and Tot school is on a winter break, while I prepare Chloe's room into a tot school friendly area, and get around to making some posters and learning material for a more formal instruction)

There's Mickey in the back! With a line that went around the building! = not worth it.

Enjoying her 1st Visit pin. (You can ask for one at City hall)

Getting Warm by Mickey's fire place

 Playing with all the fun things that Toontown has to offer!

The not so easy moments...

Admiring Mickey's Garden!

 Yes, we do the "Leash".

We're from California! We over-react to the cold :)

Working Mom problems

I am a working mom, I don't have the privilege to spend my day with my baby girl and for the most part I have gotten pretty used to it...but not DR. APPOINTMENTS.  I have been lucky to so far not miss one appointment and I try really hard to schedule them at times I know I will be able to make.

Chloe turned 15 months recently and with that comes an check up and shots. She is on a delayed vaccine schedule so we haven't had shots since she was 10 months, however for 15 months she is scheduled to get 3. There was a bit of a schedule conflict at work and I thought I was going to have to ask my mom to take her for me. I wanted to cry at the thought. Yes, my mom is wonderful with her...but ...she's not me.....I already miss most her day, most her special moments and I want to be there to be the one to give her comfort after the mean Dr. makes her cry. I want to be there to hear everything the DR. has to say and ask all the right questions. I want to be there to make sure that only the shots I want are given (this is the hardest one.) I couldn't find peace in the decision of having someone else take my baby to the DR.  well...Luckily I will be able to taker her after all but to be honest I was taken by surprise by just how much the thought of not being there for her bothered me.